We held our first Zoom community meeting on October 5. The topic was housing – how we provide it for varying community needs, and what concerns residents have about housing types and forms.
We were pleased that over 22 people logged in and expressed their views. Many emphasized their strong support for social housing in the neighbourhood, but were concerned about whether the recommendations of the community plan related to height, density, and placement were being ignored.
Participants also referenced issues related to the recent park encampments with concerns expressed about safety and a lack of washroom facilities for campers. So far city officials have failed to address neighbourhood worries about these encampments and any housing provided for campers will certainly be many months away at best.
Temporary modular housing (TMH) was discussed with concerns about the city’s proposed 98 units at 1580 Vernon Street in an industrial area west of Clark. This, along with a large social housing facility planned at Clark and First Avenue is too large a concentration of units in an unsuitable area, some suggested.
Some community activists have also advocated for TMH behind the Kettle drop in centre on Commercial Drive and Venables. However the city is unlikely to pursue this option, preferring to work on a proposal for the Kettle Friendship Society to build 50 units of housing and a drop in centre on that city parking lot instead.
The 9-story building proposed at 1766 Frances was discussed. The applicant, the Vancouver Native Housing Society, is seeking 84 social housing units “with rental rates set at 30% of a household’s income.” Participants re-iterated their broad support for social housing in Grandview-Woodland, but with concerns about this building’s height, density and precedent-setting for future developments.
We feel this first Zoom session was a resounding success and hope to hold more forums in the near future. Stay tuned!
Grandview-Woodland Area Council 